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What Is Psychology?
Psychology offers insight into the connection between our minds and human behavior. It includes a wide range of areas of study, such as human development, cognition and learning, health sciences, social behavior, and more.
By studying psychology, we can better understand ourselves as well as other people. While people typically think of psychology knowledge being used for psychotherapy, the field is actually much more diverse than that. Understanding the human mind may prove valuable in all kinds of roles in social services, management, sales, marketing, education, healthcare, politics, military service, and more.
Online Psychology Degree Highlights
Our online bachelor's degree in psychology features distinctive courses of interest to military and public safety personnel, such as:
- Psychology of combat. In this course, students study acute and chronic behavioral response to battle, examine case studies from combat action, and learn about the U.S. military’s approach to psychiatric management of combat.
- Psychology of disaster. This course focuses on human response to natural and man-made disasters, teaching students principles of mental health care and the recovery process for victims of disaster.
- Psychology of terrorism. Students in this course discover the motives and strategies of terror groups, as well as the psychological and social impacts of terrorism on individuals and communities.
Academic and Career Paths in Psychology
Students pursuing a psychology degree may use this knowledge to immediately enter the workforce, or they may seek additional education to enable them to work in the mental health field.
The American Psychological Association highlights the wide range of jobs open to those with a bachelor's degree in psychology, such as:
- Benefits managers
- Caseworkers
- Child development specialists
- Coaches
- Corrections officers
- Criminal investigators
- Employment counselors
- Market research analysts
- Research assistants
An online psychology degree may also be the starting point for those interested in working to improve public health, treating issues like depression, or helping those with developmental disabilities.
A bachelor's in psychology can be the first step toward becoming a therapist, but there are minimum educational and licensure requirements in each area that vary by state. For example, the minimum requirements to practice child psychology is either a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology and state licensure.
There is a high demand for professionals working in many therapeutic capacities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job growth in mental health and related fields is expected to increase by 18% between 2022-2032. Mental health counselors can help treat patients for behavioral disorders, trauma, or other issues.
Many of these roles, as well as those involving applied behavior analysis, for example, require an advanced degree beyond a bachelor’s in psychology and/or certification. Having a desired professional goal can help guide academic program selection.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed April 2024] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Psychology in the Military
There are many psychology roles in the military, ranging from aerospace experimental psychologists to clinical psychologists and research psychologists. Those with advanced mental health education may also work in the military as social workers,
corrections case workers, or chaplains. According to the career site Indeed, psychology majors can go on to pursue career paths across all branches of the military, working in diverse settings, from military bases to hospitals and clinical offices.
Psychology in the Workplace
Human resources professionals benefit greatly from a background in psychology, so they can better engage with employees. Understanding human behavior is essential for those working in recruiting, employee retention and motivation, and similar capacities.
Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology is also a growing field in the workplace. I/O psychology involves applying scientific research to better understand and optimize work environments. A career path in I/O may involve assessing talent, developing employment policies, improving performance, or promoting the well-being of personnel. These skills are highly valuable in many workforces, including in the military where personnel are often required to operate at a high level of performance under myriad threats. Those trained in I/O psychology may work as management consultants, organizational consultants, employee relations analysts, performance analysts, or licensed psychologists.
Psychology in Social Services
If you’re passionate about helping others, working in social services may be right for you. A bachelor's degree in psychology can help you get started on a career path in social services. Careers in this field may include community health workers, probation officers, career counselors, or social service assistants.
Those who earn an advanced psychology degree or related degree may go on to work as rehabilitation specialists, school counselors, mental health counselors, or family therapists. Doing so requires gaining a deep understanding of the psychology discipline and typically involves licensure.
Why Earn your Psychology Bachelor’s Degree at American Military University?
Recognized for high-quality education. American Military University is part of American Public University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Intriguing topics. Our bachelor’s in psychology program addresses thought-provoking subjects, including child psychology, human sexuality, and sports psychology.
Military friendly. The majority of students in our online psychology degree are military personnel. As the top education provider to the U.S. military,* we work to help students, including those who are actively deployed, gain an education. We offer a Preferred Military Rate for U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families as well as a Veterans Grant.
Academic support. Our academic advisors work alongside our students, helping to advocate for them, point them in the right direction, and provide guidance every step of the way.
Mental health support. We recognize the importance of students taking care of themselves, first and foremost. We provide free access to the TalkCampus app, which connects you with peer support for mental health issues, 24/7, in 25 different languages. You can also use Uwill to immediately connect with licensed counselors, available via video, phone, chat, or message, at no cost.
Affordability. Our University System ranks in the top 11% for return on investment compared to colleges and universities nationwide, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report, Ranking 4,500 Colleges by ROI (2022), based on a 20-year return on investment or net present value (NPV).
Flexibility. Our bachelor’s in psychology is 100% online, making it ideal for working professionals, including those deployed overseas. Rolling admissions and flexible class schedules allow students to balance their life, work, and family obligations while pursuing their psychology degree.
A supportive community. With students across the country, we’ve created a welcoming online community where you can get involved with student clubs, volunteer opportunities, and leadership initiatives beyond the classroom.
*Based on FY 2019 Department of Defense tuition assistance, as reported by Military Times, 2020
Experienced Faculty
A bachelor’s degree in psychology exposes you to a wide range of disciplines across the field. Faculty in the bachelor’s in psychology program have included:
- An Air Force veteran working in forensic neuropsychology
- A personnel psychologist at U.S. Department of Defense
- Licensed psychologists working in private practice
- A professional at a statewide agency working to help the lives of people with developmental disabilities
American Military University has exceptional faculty who believe in our students and enjoy helping them to thrive in whatever academic and career path they choose. Most of our faculty in the psychology degree program have been with the University for more than 10 years. Students appreciate learning from these professors with deep experience and divergent backgrounds.
In addition to Military Tuition Assistance and our Veteran Grant, there are many ways to reduce the cost of your online bachelor’s degree. This includes:
- Transfer credits for previous academic work, professional experience, military courses, as well as demonstration of existing knowledge
- Veteran benefits, including the GI Bill®, Top-Up, the Veteran Readiness and Employment Service, and survivor and dependent benefit programs
- Everyday Heroes Grant for law enforcement and emergency services professionals
- University-sponsored Grant, which provides a savings on tuition for American Military University students
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official website: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) discipline. So, we recommend that you take courses in research methods early in the program to discover sound scientific methods for testing hypotheses, interpreting data, writing research reports, and conducting research using peer-reviewed literature. Becoming skilled in psychology research is an important foundation for succeeding in a psychology degree program.
The years to completion of a psychology degree will vary depending on how many courses you take each semester but typically you can earn your bachelor’s degree in four years if you’re attending classes full time. The time to earn your psychology degree can be reduced if you have transfer credits from previous college coursework, professional training or certification, government or public safety training, work experience, or military service.
For those pursuing a psychology degree, students who are disciplined and have strong critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques tend to do best. There is considerable writing and research work involved in earning a psychology degree, so having these foundational skills will serve you well.
Students seeking an undergraduate degree in psychology will gain knowledge they can use across a wide range of fields. If you’re considering a graduate degree in psychology, it’s often beneficial to go straight from a bachelor’s degree to a doctoral degree instead of a master’s degree if you’re looking to work as a psychologist.
The psychology degree examines the workings of human behavior through the lens of developmental, organizational, and abnormal psychology. Courses may cover topics such as behavior of humans in various settings; the biological basis of behavior; cognitive, emotional, and social development; societal impacts on human behavior; and more.